Smart Living with Grit and Grace | The Grit and Grace Project

Single Again? How to Know When to Date After Death or Divorce with Ashby Duval – 056

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreSingle again and confused about what’s next? Are you ready for another relationship or is it too soon? Since our co-host Julie Graham is in this place we invited fellow widow and one of our most popular writers at The Grit and Grace Project online magazine, Ashby Duval, to share her story. Ashby, while pregnant with their first child, faced her husband’s unexpected passing and speaks to us with vulnerability and hope. She honestly shares her journey as she navigated grief and the world of dating once again. Darlene and Julie ask her the questions you might be asking if you’re single after death or divorce. Realizing […]

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We’re 1! A Look Back on Our First Year of This #GritandGraceLife Podcast – 055

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreThis Grit and Grace Life podcast turns ONE today! We’re like a wobbly toddler who’s just starting to get her stride. Since it is our birthday, we are throwing a party! Your co-hosts, Darlene and Julie, laugh, cry, and reminisce on what they’ve learned from a year of recording their conversations for you. This reflecting led Julie to provide an answer to an inevitable question, “People are asking how I’m doing. Being a part of The Grit and Grace Project and starting this show has been healing for me. I’m so thankful for all the support from our friends who listen.” This episode recounts the shows that

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How Can You Raise Great Girls? Darlene’s Daughters Tell All – 054

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreAre you trying to raise confident, capable daughters but feeling unsure about how you’re doing? Every mother feels that way! Darlene Brock, in her new book, Raising Great Girls, takes a look back at the years she raised her two daughters. By breaking down the roles, this mom took on doable jobs, and she shares what she learned. Since today is the official book release date, we wanted to celebrate by inviting her daughters to join us for this fun episode. You will hear firsthand from Darlene and her daughters the successes and failures that led to them becoming the adults they are today! Julie interviews Darlene, Loren,

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Why Moms Love Evereve, a Unique Fashion Experience – 053

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe’re having a party! On August 21 at the Evereve store, a contemporary fashion and styling company for women in Franklin, Tennessee, we are celebrating the release of Darlene’s new book Raising Great Girls! Combining Evereve, which provides a unique shopping experience for moms who want to feel good about themselves, with a book about moms raising confident and capable daughters felt like the perfect fit. To give you a little preview of what you will experience at this event, Darlene and Julie brought in two special ladies from the Evereve store, stylist Dorena Williamson, and store manager Shelley Kirkman, to chat about how moms can lose

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Practical Ways Women Can Thrive in the Workplace – 052

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreDid you know that the majority of women in America today are in the workplace? Of course, you did; you’re probably one of them. Something you may not know is, there’s a difference between how the genders approach challenges at work. How can we thrive as women in the workplace? What does it look like when we apply both grit and grace? With these thoughts in mind, Darlene and Julie discuss the common issues we face in our jobs, as well as, how to find the balance between work and home life. They share laughs over their least and most favorite jobs and admit their pitfalls as

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This Is What Every Mom Needs for Back to School – 051

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreSuddenly summer ends. Faced with the start of the new school year, relief and anxiety collide as the transition begins. Your to-do list multiplies with shopping, meetings, reprioritizing your schedule, and dealing with the stress of your student(s) entering a new classroom. How can you handle it all without losing your mind? Darlene and Julie talk about saving money on back-to-school necessities, how to talk to your kids about the emotional changes they’ll face, and even give you some ideas on caring for yourself during this often stressful change of seasons. Know this: you’ve got the grit and grace for this, mom! Listen as you shop or

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A Therapist’s Practical Advice for Blended Families with Dr. Zoe Shaw – 050

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreSince nearly 50% of new marriages are remarriages, it should come as no surprise that many women are blending families. It doesn’t take long after making those marriage vows to discover combining families can be complicated. It can also be beautiful. How? We brought in our most reliable expert, psychotherapist, and relationship counselor, Dr. Zoe, to share a balanced and a realistic view of how to blend these separate families into one unit with equal parts grit and grace. Darlene (married mom of two adult daughters) and Julie (widowed single mom) ask the often searched for questions that are frequently found at The Grit and Grace Project

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Hardship Hit This Singer’s Life and She Chose to Fight! with Cameron James Pt. 2 – 049

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreCameron James’ moving story of hardship and hope continues in this second installment. She first joined us on episode 048 when she shared her heartbreaking and inspiring journey of learning about her daughter’s ultra-rare disease. In part 2, she discusses the next season. As life became manageable and her daughter made progress (which seemed so unlikely when first diagnosed), she once again found herself in an all-out war with her husband in the crosshairs. This war led to her standing in Washington, D.C., passionately pleading with politicians and lobbying for a change. Listen to her open up to Darlene and Julie about the rest of the journey

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Hardship Hit This Singer’s Life and She Chose to Fight! with Cameron James Pt. 1 – 048

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreHave you ever experienced hardships that felt insurmountable? Have you been tested on every side, not even sure you would survive? Our guest has been there. A few times. Singer/songwriter and mom of two, Cameron James, shares her moving story that began the day she discovered her daughter had an extremely rare disease. In this episode, she recounts her journey from devastation to hope and belief that miracles can still happen even in the midst of fear. James has learned to keep fighting, even with odds stacked against her. This episode is only part 1 of her heart wrenching story. Listen to her gripping interview with Darlene

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Miss Independent: Can You Be Healthy, Strong and Dependent? – 047

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhat does it mean to be an independent woman? Is this description only for the single, carefree women with no man or children in tow? Or does every woman need to master self-sufficiency in all our relationships? Whether we are a girlfriend, wife, or mother, it’s essential to be able to stand on our own as well as mastering healthy dependence. In this episode, Darlene and Julie reflect on culture’s definition of Miss Independent and The Grit and Grace Project’s take on being healthy, strong and dependent enough to be genuinely independent. We’re convinced we can balance it all with grit and grace. Viewing in an app?

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A Fresh Take on Resolutions You Need to Try – 046

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWith half of the year already behind us, we’re wondering how you’ve done with all those New Year’s resolutions? Did you keep one, two, or any? Yeah, same here… Statistically, only 8% of us ever do. So, let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief and remember that we care about progress, not perfection, and always—give ourselves a little bit of grace! But let’s not entirely leave resolutions behind; let’s apply a little grit and see if we can think of a few ways to maximize the rest of this year. In this episode, Darlene and Julie reflect on the ones they did or didn’t make, laugh

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Stop the Mommy Wars: Every Mom Is Doing Something Right – 045

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast, Motherhood

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreMoms want to put a label on everything, including themselves. Are you a crunchy mom? Free-range mom? Do you practice attachment parenting or grace-based? What do these even mean? In this episode, Darlene (who raised her daughters a couple of decades ago) and Julie (in the thick of it now) poke fun at themselves as they try to figure out what their styles would be called while they highlight the great parts of each style discussed. But no judgement here—we believe all moms are doing the best they can and deserve to be encouraged to find their own grit and grace along their motherhood journey. Viewing in

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Skillet’s Jen Ledger Shares Her Faith, Her Fear and Her Strength – 044

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhat happens when an incredible opportunity comes your way? Fear? Anxiety? Belief that you aren’t qualified? Well, you’re not alone; that is precisely where today’s guest found herself. Drummer, Jen Ledger, joined the multi-platinum, world-touring rock band, Skillet, at 18 years of age, all the while struggling with feelings that she didn’t have what it takes. Now a decade later, she’s facing her fears again with the release of her first solo EP “Ledger.” In this episode, Jen shares how her fear can derail her, bringing anxiety and panic along with it. Yet, it is in her faith that she finds strength. Whether you’re facing change, challenge,

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What Makes a Woman Beautiful (Might Surprise You) – 043

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | More It’s amazing what women will do to feel beautiful. From crazy beauty tricks through time to what truly sets a woman apart, we have all gotten caught in the trap. There’s a multi-billion dollar industry thriving on our desire to be attractive. The products we “need” fill our drawers but are soon discarded for the next must-have to get just the right look. In this episode, Darlene and Julie will discuss hilarious beauty hacks from the past (and ones we still try today), then dive deeper into a woman’s real beauty. Often it is the outer beauty that is first noticed, and of course, we all

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Vacation Ideas: Why We Want to See These Unique Places Now – 042

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhat’s your plan for summer vacation? Are you looking for unusual or exotic destinations, or ways to make whatever trip you’re planning a little less painful? This week we discuss them all. From crazy must-see vacation spots across America to Darlene and Julie getting a little carried away as they ponder where they’d want to go, ”if money were no object!” Whether you’re planning a road trip, staycation or dream vacay with your people anytime soon, you’ll love this lighthearted chat. Of course, we can’t leave you without throwing in some practical tips for packing and traveling with less stress while sharing a few funny travel stories

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Do You Have to Be a Feminist to Be a Strong Woman? – 041

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreEach week we celebrate what we believe—women are strong, it’s demonstrated in who we are and all we do. But it seems in the current culture a woman’s strength is often considered synonymous with feminism. In the midst of the potentially confusing platforms we just have to explore this topic. What is a feminist today, anyway? Is there value in the movement, what have we learned from it and where do we go next? Has feminism lost the respect for and appreciation of the strength of a man? This week we are discussing what it means to be a strong woman and a feminist in today’s explosive

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5 Things a Woman Must Do for Success in Life – 040

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreDo you have a purpose in your life? Or avoid the subject because you feel that you don’t? Women who are living this #gritandgracelife can accomplish so many things, but we are often set back by fear or worry, or we compare ourselves to others. In this episode, Julie explores Darlene’s life journey. Sharing five life tips that she followed to get where she is now: having several successful careers, a rich multi-decade marriage, as well as launching two grown daughters into fulfilling lives of their own. If you’re at a crossroads, struggling with your next step, or seeking to discover a passion that is uniquely for

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